Objective:

The objective of this research project is to
develop a geographic information system (GIS)-based tool that can be used by
managers and policymakers
for facilitating the process of making decisions regarding tidal shorelines
within their jurisdiction.

Approach:

The use of the GIS tool will be as follows. Through
a graphical interface, the decisionmakers can use the GIS to extract information
about
the area of shoreline in question. The GIS will include details about the current
shoreline situation and any structures that may be present, the adjoining land
use, and data describing the physical environment of the shoreline and its
adjacent water body. These variables will be used to divide the reaches of
shoreline into a variety of shoreline types. The GIS will output the data regarding
the area of shoreline interest as well as the shoreline type. For each general
shoreline type, the available management options will be detailed so that it
can be referenced in the decisionmaking process. James City County and Gloucester
County, Virginia, have been chosen as the localities to be used in the development
of this protocol. Both jurisdictions recently have completed updated shoreline
inventories. Once all available data have been encoded into one ARC/INFO line-based
coverage for each county, the shoreline will be classified according to its
type.

Supplemental Keywords:

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.